BRIEF -SYNOPSIS OF NORTH AMERICAN EARWIGS, WITH AN 

 APPENDIX ON THE FOSSIL SPECIES. 



By Samuel H, Scudder. 



The following synopsis includes all the species of Forjicularke {thivty- 

 eight in number) known to me from Korth America and the West Indies. 

 -Only fourteen of them occur within the limits of the United States, and 

 of these one {For/. Fercheroni) is doubtful, and but nine are indigenous. 

 The introduced species are Lahidura riparia, AnisolaMs maritima,* 

 Forficula Fercheroni, F. auricularia, and Labia minor. Those which I 

 have not seen, and which are consequently described from the writings 

 of-' others, with more or less inaccurac}^ on my part, are preceded by a 

 dagger. Doubtless some oi' them, and especially those of Fabricius, 

 may be entirely misplaced, or even synonymous with others, as they 

 have not since been recognized, and few if any points of structure enter 

 into the brief descriptions of the older authors. One is necessarily 

 omitted. The descriptions have been made as brief as possible, and no 

 synonymy is given ; for the latter the student is referred to my list of 

 described Forjicularice of the whole world, now printing in the eighteenth 

 volume of Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. The 

 length of the body is exclusive of the forceps ; and where the colors and 

 length of the wings are mentioned, reference is made only to' the por- 

 tion of the wings which is exposed when the insect is at rest. 



I. SixtJi antennal joint much shorter than the first. 

 A. Sixtli antennal joint no longer than broad. 



Thermastris. Wliole body, but especially the anterior half, 

 much flattened; antenu.ne very long, composed of 

 more than 30 joints ; j)rosternum pointed anteriorly; 

 tegmina and wings present; first and third tarsal 

 joints equal ; second very small, simple ; third joint 

 furnished with a pad ; second and third abdominal 

 segments without lateral plications ; forceps moder- 

 ately stout, straight, either distant, incurved at tip 

 ((?), or attingent"( 9 ). 



{ Posterior edge of penultimate ventral segment rounded 



] and entire 1. Chontalia. 



I Posterior edge of same rouiuled, but excised in the 

 [ middle 2. SaussureL 



1. Chontalia Scudd. Dull castaneous, the head, thorax, 

 tegmina, and wings uniform black or blackish-brown, 

 Body 18.5"""; forceps 9 G,25"'"'. Nicaragua. 



t2, Saussurci ])ohrn. Kufo-piceous, the elytra and 

 wings rufo-fnscous, but the latter yellow on inner 

 halt; base of femora, apex of tibia', and whole of 

 tarsi yellow. Body 19"""; forceps c? 5"'"'. Mexico. 



^ This niiiy be indigeuons, but it occms over nearly tlie whole worlil. 



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